Mum arrested for ‘poisoning’ her children and accused of Munchausen syndrome – then doctors discovered hidden condition
A MUM-of-three was arrested for “poisoning” her children and diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome – before doctors discovered she was suffering from a hidden condition.
Laura Turner, 44, rushed her kids to A&E in a paranoid panic in June 2022, convinced they’d consumed her sleeping tablets.
The mum was later informed she was being arrested on suspicion of attempting to poison her own children and was diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome – a condition where someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves.
It wasn’t until months later that doctors said her intense paranoia had been caused by a rare reaction to psychiatric drugs.
Laura’s life was thrown into turmoil after a beauty treatment gone wrong in November 2021 left her with constant pain in her mouth and teeth.
The mum was given antidepressants to address the pain, which she claims left her unable to sleep, in a permanent state of anxiety and suicidal.
The previously happy and healthy mum-of-three began acting out of character, her husband Duncan told MyLondon: “There was this extreme agitation and panic all the time.”
On June 1 2022, Laura was gripped by a haze of delusion and became convinced that her children had ingested her sleeping pills.
Though the kids, aged two, six and eight at the time, showed no symptoms of having done so, Laura rushed them to A&E.
Having called her husband, Laura left her local hospital on her own and attempted to take her own life, suffering a broken clavicle, ribs and pelvis.
She was transferred to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, to receive treatment for her injuries.
“I was later told I was arrested on claims that I had attempted to poison my children,” Laura told MyLondon.
The mum remained at St George’s for four weeks and was diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome, before placed in two psychiatric wards for a further three months.
A quest for answers
After Laura was discharged from psychiatric care – having been prescribed anti-psychotics, antidepressants and drugs to treat sleep issues and anxiety – she began searching for answers about what had happened to her.
She came across YouTube interview with an American neurotoxicologist Dr Raymond Singer, talking about a condition called neurotoxicity or neurotixic poisoning.
“It described every single thing that had happened to me,” Laura said.
Dr Singer claimed that some people can be genetically more susceptible to neurotoxic poisoning and can reactions to psychiatric drugs like insomnia and suicidal thoughts.
Laura booked a consultation with Dr Singer, who recommended she get her DNA tested by a forensic medical examiner and DNA expert, Dr Selma Eikelenboom-Schieveld.
The results showed that her body had difficulty metabolising drugs, especially the psychoactive drugs prescribed to her.
Dr Eikelenboom-Schieveld also claimed Laura had developed a disorder called akathisia as a side effect from the medications prescribed to her and recommended the mum be weaned off the meds she was taking.
The neuropsychiatric syndrome and movement disorder can cause an intense sensation of unease or inner restlessness and has been linked to certain types of medications, especially antipsychotic medications, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Laura claims akathisia – which she said causes intense feelings of restlessness, agitation and suicidal thoughts among others – was responsible for the paranoia that caused her to rush her children to A&E, and her other unpleasant symptoms.
Dr Singer and Dr Eikelenboom’s reports were reviewed by a consultant psychiatrist based on Harley Street.
They agreed that Laura had developed akathisia as a side effect of her medication and that her symptoms had been misdiagnosed as an evolving mental illness, MyLondon reported.
What is Munchausen syndrome?
MUNCHAUSEN syndrome is a psychological condition where someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves.
People with Munchausen syndrome can behave in a number of different ways, including:
- Pretending to have psychological symptoms – for example, claiming to hear voices or claiming to see things that are not really there
- Pretending to have physical symptoms – for example, claiming to have chest pain or a stomach ache
- Actively trying to get ill – such as deliberately infecting a wound by rubbing dirt into it
The condition is complex and poorly understood, though it’s thought it could be brought on by emotional trauma or personality disorders.
Source: NHS
Laura described her diagnosis as pivotal, saying: “I am not an isolated case, I have read many heartbreaking stories.
“I had all the symptoms of this condition.”
The Metropolitan Police concluded in 2024 that no further action would be taken against Laura.
A statement from the Met said: “In June 2021, police arrested a woman after concerns were raised for the welfare of children in her care.
“Specialist detectives were assigned investigate all the circumstances and gather potential evidence, and the woman was released on bail while this took place.
“Police will always try to ensure investigations are conducted as swiftly as possible, but must pursue all available evidence – in complex cases this can take some time.
“After all the evidence was compiled and presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, a decision was taken in February 2024 that the woman would face no further action.
“We are acutely aware of the stress a police investigation can have on all those involved, but officers have a duty to ensure all lines of enquiry are fully investigated before an outcome can be reached.”
A spokesperson for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group said: “We strive to ensure all patients receive safe and compassionate care, and are very sorry to hear that Mrs Turner was unhappy with her experience in our hospitals.
“While Mrs Turner has previously raised some of her concerns with us directly, which we responded to, we are here should she wish to discuss or highlight anything further.”